THE KING CHARLES SPANIELS 281 



The eyes are set wide apart, with the eyelids square to the line of the 

 face, not oblique or fox-like. The eyes themselves are large, and dark 

 as possible, so as to be generally considered black, their enormous 

 pupils, which are absolutely of that colour, increasing the description. 

 There is always a certain amount of weeping shown at the inner angles. 

 This is owing to a defect in the lachrymal duct. Stop The " stop " 

 or hollow between the eyes is well marked, as in the Bulldog, or even 

 more so ; some good specimens exhibit a hollow deep enough to bury 

 a small marble. Nose The nose must be short and well turned up 

 between the eyes, and without any indication of artificial displacement 

 afforded by a deviation to either side. The colour of the end should 

 be black, and it should be both deep and wide with open nostrils. 

 Jaw The muzzle must be square and deep, and the lower jaw wide 

 between the branches, leaving plenty of space for the tongue, and 

 for the attachment of the lower lips, which should completely conceal 

 the teeth. It should also be turned up or " finished," so as to allow of 

 its meeting the end of the upper jaw turned up in a similar way, as above 

 described. Ears The ears must be long, so as to approach the ground. 

 In an average-sized dog they measure twenty inches from tip to tip, 

 and some reach twenty-two inches, or even a trifle more. They should 

 be set low on the head, hang flat to the sides of the cheeks, and be 

 heavily feathered. In this last respect the King Charles is expected to 

 exceed the Blenheim, and his ears occasionally extend to twenty-four 

 inches. Size The most desirable size is indicated by the accepted 

 weight of from 7 Ib. to 10 Ib. Shape In compactness of shape these 

 Spaniels almost rival the Pug, but the length of coat adds greatly 

 to the apparent bulk, as the body, when the coat is wetted, looks 

 small in comparison with that dog. Still, it ought to be decidedly 

 " cobby," with strong, stout legs, short broad back and wide chest. 

 The symmetry of the King Charles is of importance, but it is seldom 

 that there is any defect in this respect. Coat The coat should be 

 long, silky, soft and wavy, but not curly. In the Blenheim there 

 should be a profuse mane, extending well down in the front of the 

 chest. The feather should be well displayed on the ears and feet, and 

 in the latter case so thickly as to give the appearance of their being 

 webbed. It is also carried well up the backs of the legs. In the Black 

 and Tan the feather on the ears is very long and profuse, exceeding that 

 of the Blenheim by an inch or more. The feather on the tail (which 

 is cut to the length of three and a half to four inches) should be silky, 

 and from five to six inches in length, constituting a marked " flag " 

 of a square shape, and not carried above the level of the back. Colour 

 The colour differs with the variety. The Black and Tan is a rich 

 glossy black and deep mahogany tan ; tan spots over the eyes, and the 

 usual markings on the muzzle, chest, and legs are also required. The 

 Ruby is a rich chestnut red, and is whole-coloured. The presence of a 

 few white hairs intermixed with the black on the chest of a Black and 

 Tan, or intermixed with the red on the chest of a Ruby Spaniel, shall 

 carry weight against a dog, but shall not in itself absolutely disqualify ; 

 but a white patch on the chest or white on any other part of a Black 

 and Tan or Ruby Spaniel shall be a disqualification. The Blenheim 

 must on no account be whole-coloured, but should have a ground of 



